Special Announcement - Now Enrolling for FDA Approved Stem Cell StudyDr. Mitchell Sheinkop has completed training and is credentialed for the first of its kind FDA approved stem cell clinical trial for knee arthritis. Our clinic is now enrolling patients in this trial. Contact us at 312-475-1893 for details. Click here to learn more.

The New York Times: 2019/05/13 “Stem cell Treatments Flourish with Little Evidence That They Work”

Several years ago, I asked a question of a cellular biologist as to how is Bone Marrow Concentrate effective if the number of adult mesenchymal stem cells diminish as we age? His response: “Bone Marrow contains lots of things including stem cells and proteins called cytokines or growth factors. It may be that the growth factors are most important in joint restoration and blocking pain.”

Let’s take for example, inflammatory arthritis such as Rheumatoid and Psoriatic arthritis. The common denominator is a pro-inflammatory cytokine called Tissue Necrosis Factor found in the body’s immune system. The growth factor, TNF-alpha blocker is now used to control the inflammation and alter the body’s immune response to the proinflammatory protein. As a result of TNF-alpha blockers, Phil Mickelson is a very competitive golf professional, (You have seen him as a spokes person for Psoriatic Arthritis treatment with Humira). Since the introduction of TNF alpha blockers in Scandinavia five years ago, there has been a 40% reduction in Total Knee Replacements for inflammatory arthritis. When Kobe Bryant traveled to Dusseldorf, Germany almost nine years ago, he received treatment for a very arthritic knee with Interleukin -1 Receptor Antagonist Protein, along with other blockers. Shortly thereafter, he returned to play another five years in the NBA. The IRAP that Bryant received was and is an anti-inflammatory, a growth factor blocker, a cytokine.

As I agree in part with the criticism in the New York Times concerning Stem Cells, those who read this Blog will recall that I don’t “sell” stem cells. Bone Marrow is used in part because of the fact that it contains stem cells; but more importantly as we age, Bone Marrow contains Growth Factors, the anti-inflammatory protein Cytokines that restore a joint by minimizing pain and improving function. Over the last eight years, we have accumulated the evidence that Bone Marrow Concentrate works for arthritis via stem cells, growth factors, or all of the above. Recently we have taken a major step forward by filtering high concentrations of Growth Factors from the Platelet Poor Plasma, previously discarded, that remained after we centrifuge the bone marrow and add the filtrate to that which is injected into the painful joint. Stem Cells maybe, highly concentrated Growth Factors that act to block pain and improve function, for certain.

You may learn more by visiting my web site at www.sheinkopmd.com or call for a consultation (847)390-7666

I consider myself an aging athlete who still skis, cycles, dedicates five days a week to fitness, plans to soon plant a garden, and walks up a spring creek with a fly rod. When my arthritic hips and knees began to limit my recreational profile several years ago, I chose the regenerative medicine option rather than joint replacements. Having performed joint replacements for 37 years and studied the benefits and limitations of such, I elected to postpone, perhaps avoid major surgery with the inherent risks and limitations. First it was Platelet rich plasma, next came PRP with Growth factor Proteins; and next came stem cells. At the get go, I did not expect to regenerate cartilage; but I did hope to restore joint function, minimize pain, and maintain the highest possible activity potential. Even with Grade 4 osteoarthritis of my major joints, I can report that I skied for a week in Vail this past February as I did a year ago, recently spent three days wading though spring creeks in Southwestern Wisconsin with a fly rod in pursuit of trout, and cycled 30 miles last Saturday. I am not alone as my biking, skiing and cycling buddy with similar knee issues returned last week from his yearly helicopter skiing adventure. I have been managing his knee arthritic issues with regenerative medicine interventions for over five years.

Then there are the athletes in their 50s. Certainly, the option is there for a joint replacement for a grade three arthritic joint but what If? What if there is a complication, an adverse event, a failure to regain motion, or residual pain? The fall back potion after a failed joint replacement is another joint replacement and the outcomes of revision surgery are frequently not satisfactory. Several weeks ago, I described the recreational pursuits of a 58-year-old volleyball enthusiast who had initially considered a joint replacement when 15 years after an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, the predictable post traumatic arthritis had forced him to suspend his activities. He chose a regenerative medicine stem cell option; and eight weeks thereafter, he is back to playing volleyball three times a week. While on occasion, a booster follow-up injection is needed; we are in the process of developing a manuscript for scientific publication focusing on the successful outcomes of 20 patients followed for one to two years after a combined injection of bone marrow concentrate containing stem cells into the knee and the bone adjacent to the knee. These are recreational athletes between ages 45 and 60 who won’t quit.

On May 4, I am one of three invited faculty to present at The Regenerative Medicine Training Institute (RMTI). On June 7 and 8, I have been asked to participate in the Workshop and Lab Faculty at the largest Regenerative Medicine program in North America (TOBI). Owing to our integration of patient care with scientific outcomes monitoring, we have been able and continue to provide masterful and evidence-based care to aging athletes. To continue to remain in the forefront of Regenerative Medicine, I dedicate a good deal of time reviewing the future while monitoring the outcomes of patient care. Several new treatment options are soon to be launched including expanding my scope of care to those with inflammatory arthritis.

To learn more, call for a consultation (312) 475-1893. You may visit my website: www.sheinkopmd.com

A patient presents to the office because of pain in the knee with or without a history of injury. An examination is performed followed by an X-Ray. Osteoarthritis may or may not be seen on the X-ray. If there is an altered range of knee motion when compared to the “normal” side, then a preexisting condition is considered. Whether or not the physician considers arthritis, an MRI is requested. The MRI report 48 hours after imaging is consistent with a torn medial meniscus. Should all patients with a torn medial meniscus undergo surgical intervention? If surgery is undertaken, should the procedure be a repair or a partial removal? The management of meniscal injuries must be influenced by the knowledge that meniscal integrity is important in load distribution across the joint. Meniscal injury causes altered joint mechanics and is related to the onset of arthritis.

According to a recently published online article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) may not be the best option for all patients with knee pain and meniscal tear. Researchers investigated patients with meniscal tears that compared Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy to nonsurgical intervention, pharmacological intervention, and no intervention. At six to 12 months, APM patients had a slight improvement in knee pain, knee-specific quality of life, and knee function compared to physiotherapy patients. When excluding osteoarthritis (OA) patients, the aforementioned outcomes exhibited small to moderate improvement. Knee pain, function, and quality of life did not improve for APM patients compared to placebo surgery patients at six to 12 months regardless of OA status.

There may, however, be a small-to-moderate benefit from APM compared with physiotherapy for patients without osteoarthritis and who have mechanical or obstructive signs. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM), a keyhole surgery where loose and fragmented pieces of a torn meniscus is removed, is one of the most common orthopedic procedures performed. Over half of these are performed to treat a meniscus tear in a degenerative knee; however, several recent randomized trials have shown that Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy is not superior to conservative treatment or placebo treating meniscus tears associated with a degenerative knee. On the other hand, there is universal agreement that the traumatic meniscus tear, the result of a knee injury in a younger patient with otherwise healthy knee (with no degeneration), should be treated by surgery.

Then what is the downside of meniscal injury and surgery? The medial and lateral meniscus together provide shock absorption, establish a broad base of contact surface and help provide stability to the knee. Those who have undergone total or partial meniscectomy should understand that in five to 15 years, they will develop degenerative arthritis. The long-term outcomes of those whose tears were treated by repair rather than removal has not been established. My Regenerative Medicine practice in part, is the result of those seeking to postpone or avoid a Total Knee Replacement years after a meniscal injury followed by arthroscopic surgery. As long as the arthritis has not progressed to a Grade 4, I am able to assist the patient with joint restoration, at times joint regeneration, it is matter of age and health. While I am able to offer joint restoration, on occasion, joint restoration for those who sustained meniscal and Anterior Cruciate injury in the past, is there anything that could be used as an adjunct at the time of the meniscal injury to promote healing without surgery or postpone, perhaps avoid future postraumatic arthritis?

To learn more. Schedule a consultation (312) 475-1893.You may view my web site at www.sheinkopmd.com.

Opening day of the baseball season is today, Thursday, March 28. I noted this morning on the sports pages how many players will not be available for the start of the race owing to injuries sustained in Spring training. In the basketball coverage, from the get go of March Madness to now, most teams have been playing at times without a star owing to injury. Then there are the final weeks of hockey, will Chicago make the playoffs? Certainly, injury could play a major role. Next in line are the joggers, cyclists, tennis players, so on and so forth who will soon be unable to meet their recreational goals owing to tendon, muscle and ligament injury. With spring comes strains and sprains.

The term strain applies to the over stretching or tearing of muscles and tendons; while a sprain is the overstretching or tearing of a ligament. The most common location for a muscle strain is the hamstring; while the most common location for a sprain is at the ankle joint. Stretching muscle and tendon groups is the best prevention for strain. At this time of the year, especially for the weekend warriors, stretching strengthening and hydration are paramount for minimizing injury.

In spite of the best of fitness preparation and compliance, you feel that stabbing pain in your calf, in the back of the thigh, in your low back in the area of the shoulder. You may choose to take advantage of direct access to the physical therapist. Should you have a greater concern regarding the nature and severity of an injury, call for an orthopedic assessment. After a physical examination, the X-ray, Ultrasound or MRI may be ordered for a most accurate diagnosis or to grade the severity of injury. If and when, physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, or a cortisone injection do not provide relatively short-term relief, it may be time to consider a regenerative medicine intervention. For sports injuries, Platelet Rich Plasma is increasingly proving effective in promoting healing, minimizing impairment, and allowing for the quickest return to highest levels of performance. The major determinant of success is the quality of the PRP as measured by either ratios of protein, platelet and cellular content; or by the actual platelet content of the plasma itself.

While in some clinics, Platelet Rich Plasma is produced by a blood draw and centrifuging, there is no standardization or quality control. In my practice, we create a known and standardized PRP. At the beginning, a finger stick is leads to a platelet count of the patient’s circulating blood. Next, the number is entered into a computer algorithm taking into account the proprietary kit being used as well as the ultimate platelet concentration and plasma volume following the centrifuging process. A repeat platelet count is done prior to injection making sure that desired numbers have been reached. if not, we are able to adjust numbers and concentration to the sought-after target. In this way we can customize the platelet Rich Plasma for each patient’s needs. Once prepared, an ultrasound unit is employed to assist targeting and making sure the PRP is injected into the desired location; that is the site of injury. The procedure is standardized in our office but customized for the shoulder, elbow, hamstring or calf. On occasion, the process may have to be repeated in three to six weeks for maximum benefit. Don’t let an injury ruin your season; if usual and customary is not effective, call for an appointment.

In general, a Growth Factor is a term used to describe a protein produced be a variety of different cell types that binds to specific receptors on different cellular surfaces. They may on the one hand stimulate cell growth; on the other hand, some growth factors may block actions on target cells of a different protein. Cytokines are another class of signaling proteins more closely related to hormones. The subject matter is quite complex; but, I wanted to introduce the subject of Growth Factors into my Blog as growth factors are increasingly gaining attention in combating and reversing the progression of arthritis.

Already in use is Tissue Necrosis Factor-alpha blocker, frequently prescribed in a proprietary form as Humera, for inflammatory arthritis and arthropathy such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthropathy and Ankylosing Spondylitis. It works by blocking a protein (TNF-Alpha), found in the body’s immune system and responsible for joint swelling and inflammation. By so doing, Humera reduces symptoms, prevents bone and cartilage damage and improves physical function.

Outside of the United States, Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein (IRAP) is used for the symptoms of grades 2 and 3 Osteoarthritis by binding to the cell surface and preventing IL-1 from sending a proinflammatory message to that cell. IRAP is currently the basis for a clinical trial taking place in the United States to document its safety and efficacy. The sponsors of the trial hope for full enrollment and outcomes analysis in the not too distant future; so, the Growth Factor might be used with FDA approval in clinical practice. It was for IRAP that one-time basketball great Kobe Bryant, travelled to Dusseldorf Germany, ten years ago with grade 4 osteoarthritis of the knee thereby prolonging his career by six years.

On Tuesday of this week, I received a call form a company exploring a safety and feasibility trial for yet another growth factor approach with the latter derived from another human biologic resource. Last March, there was a contact from a global pharmaceutical company asking my help in developing a trial for yet another type of a growth factor approach in dealing with the symptoms and limitations of arthritis. I introduce the Growth Factor subject matter now to better update my reader as well as prepare you for the coming debate that Growth Factors are equal to; perhaps more important as we age than stem cells for dealing with the symptoms, functional limitations and progression of arthritis.

To learn more, you may call for a consultation. (847) 390-7666 or visit my web site at WWW.Sheinkopmd.com